Apepi, Book of the Overthrowing of

A work which forms about a third of the funeral papyrus of Nesi-Amsu (q.v.). It treats of the daily battle between Ra and Apepi (q.v.), recalling certain chapters of the "Book of the Dead," notably chapters 7, 31, 33, and 35 to 39, from which the author has evidently borrowed. The title tells us that the book was recited in the temple of Amen-Ra in the Apts every day. It contains fifteen chapters, in some of which there is a monotonous repetition of phrases. They treat of the various methods for destroying the fiend, and are both mythical and magical. The name of Apepi was to be written in green on a papyrus and burnt; wax figures were also to be made of several fiends, and, after being defiled, were to be burnt. The most interesting part of the work is that which gives an account of the creation, and of how men and women were formed by the tears shed by the god Khepera. It is called "The Book of Knowing the Evolutions of Ra." That the work is of some antiquity is shown by the variant readings which occur, but no other copy is yet known. It differs from other funeral papyri in speaking of the deceased as Pa (Pharaoh) instead of as the Osiris.